Today's News

Business owners are getting some good news. On Tuesday night, Los Alamos County Council approved rate changes for recycling that could save them money.

Environmental Services’ efforts to encourage recycling have been successful with 80 to 85 percent of homeowners. But until now, commercial enterprises have shown little interest.

The current rate structure offers no incentives for the extra effort, with commercial entities paying the same fees for recycling dumpsters as trash dumpsters.

The new ordinance eliminates $18.20 assessed for each recycling dumpster pickup and waives the initial set-up fee. The monthly rental fee remains at $19.05. The monthly recycling roll cart fee will also be reduced from $20 to $5.

“There’s a first time for everything,” RPM Automotive owner Larry Rich said.

That’s because Wednesday afternoon was the first time he towed a vehicle he was actually the driver of.

At 1:45 p.m., Rich was heading westbound on East Road in a black Toyota 4Runner when a white Chevrolet van pulled out from the Central Avenue intersection clipping his rear bumper. The impact caused the rear axle to break and the truck to spin and flip onto the driver’s side, according to Los Alamos Police Officer David Boe.

Rich — who was unharmed and climbed out from the vehicle through the passenger side door — said the car wasn’t even his, but rather one he was repairing.

Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee requested this week that the Government Accountability Office evaluate the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s efforts to upgrade radioactive waste management capabilities, critical to maintaining its nuclear weapons stockpile.

In addition, committee leaders requested that the GAO evaluate the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) procedures for evaluating independent contractors charged with operations and management.
LANL spokesperson Kevin Roark said all questions should be directed to the NNSA.

Both accused child rapist Stephen Geisik and alleged child abuser Tyrell Abney both pled not guilty in their first appearance in District Court Wednesday.

Geisik, 21, is charged with five counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor under age 13 — a first-degree felony; and two counts of contributing the delinquency of a minor — a fourth-degree felony.

Abney, 20, is charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm – a first-degree felony.

Both cases were bound over from Los Alamos Magistrate Court to District Court earlier this month.

This Wednesday, most people will spend the day outside celebrating Independence Day watching fireworks with their family and friends. Often, people bring their dogs to enjoy the day’s festivities. There are a few things to know if you plan to spend July 4 outside with your pets.
Dr. Melanie Bolling, veterinarian for the Small Animal Hospital at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said the most common problem associated with July 4 is dogs’ sensitivity to the noise from the fireworks.

Last week, Gov. Susana Martinez issued an edict declaring, henceforth, members of her administration would no longer use their private email systems to transact official business of the state.
Martinez reportedly said even she would abide by her new directive.
The day following Martinez’s directive, news broke that her former corrections secretary, Lupe Martinez, had given an affidavit stipulating that the governor’s chief of staff actually instructed that private emails be used to circumvent requests for public records.
Conducting public business by means of private email accounts has been a source of controversy for Martinez from almost the beginning.

The White Rock-Los Alamos 9-10 and 10-11 All-Stars were both knocked out their district tournaments this week.
Both teams fell in straight games at the district tournament, which continues tonight in Española.
The WR-LA 9-10 All-Stars lost a pair of heartbreaking games to Española’s All-Stars in the three-team tournament.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks dropped sharply Thursday after the Supreme Court upheld the central provision of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, a requirement that almost all Americans carry health insurance.

The Dow Jones industrial average, which was down about 100 points before the court ruled, fell further and was down 136 points at 12,491 at noon Eastern.